Hanley Castle and Upton continue their dominant run

HANLEY Castle and Upton continued their dominant form as they followed their thrashing of Hallow with a convincing 97-run victory over West Malvern.

Visiting skipper Steve Wright won the toss in the Worcestershire Cricket League Division Five encounter and put the third-placed hosts in on what looked a good batting wicket.

But Wright was made to regret his decision as openers Will Chambers (20) and Ollie Price raced to 37 off just eight overs.

Chambers was caught at slip via the knee of wicketkeeper Kevin Gilbert but Rory Mathews joined Price and looked full of confidence after a masterful 110 not out the previous week.

Mathews and Price put on another 72 runs until the latter drove loosely at Matt Blackbourn (2-35) and lobbed a simple catch to Will Lloyd, having made 35.

Hanley’s momentum was lost slightly when just five overs later Mathews holed out at long-on just six short of his 50.

It was a key wicket for mid-table West as he was starting to look dangerous.

At 120-3, the onus was on Hanley to rebuild and Dan Powell and Grant Mathews saw the Pelicans safely through to drinks.

However, from the first ball after the break, Rowan Dakin (4-95) kept his delivery low, trapping Powell (13) lbw.

Hanley were in danger of posting a below-par score after a great start.

Rich Foley (10) did not last long either before being caught and Grant Mathews (33) followed soon after.

Nick Bentley (14) could not stick around long enough to make a real impact but lusty blows from Todd Mathews (13) and brother Barton Mathews (36 not out) saw Hanley post a competitive 238-8 from 50 overs.

West's reply started poorly as Price found the edge of Phil Chaundy’s bat and the ball was easily pouched by Foley at gully for a duck.

Price (2-29) found pace and bounce off the pitch, while Barton Mathews (1-26) bamboozled the batsmen with swing and guile.

Wright (36) went on the offensive for West and the score rocketed to 56-1 before he skied a ball into the waiting hands of Chambers to give Price and Hanley their second wicket.

Barton Mathews finally got his reward, trapping Shailly Badra lbw for 0, and Hanley were back on top.

It sparked a middle-order collapse and the next four batsmen, Blackbourn (4), Robin Lloyd (2), Gilbert (4) and Dakin (4), fell cheaply to Chambers (3-15) and Todd Mathews (4-31).

If they were to win, West had to rely on Will Lloyd, who had looked in no real bother in proceeding to 26.

Chambers, however, had other ideas, sneaking one through Will Lloyd’s defences and sending the bails flying.

Despite resistance from Matt Gammon (22no), Todd Mathews cleaned up the tail, dismissing Matt Penkoks (16) and Jesse Blackburn to give the Pelicans victory as West were bowled out for 141.

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